More orphans than resources
As more than a quarter million Kenyans have left or lost their homes in the past month, there are many children now homeless. The Kenyan government has mandated that key orphanages receive additional children, including Pistis. The following are a series of text messages from Jacintah, a staff member of the Pistis Academy and Orphanage and member of my host family.

SMS from Jacintah, 19-Jan-08, 02:40
“Children who r displaced du 2 the caos in kenya r being distributed at the orphanages around our towns. We’ll be given abt 10 or more kids for temporary stay.”

SMS from Jacintah, 19-Jan-08, [n/a]
“The children will be coming monday afta passing thro court.”

SMS from Jacintah, 21-Jan-2008 04:50
“HI, we have been given 20 kids who’r displaced they’r all 10 years n below.”

SMS from Jacintah, 22-Jan-2008 04:35
“Guess what! We’ve been given 10 more kids 2day n stil expecting more anytime.”

SMS from Jacintah, 22-Jan-2008 08:45
“As per now we’r in need of blankets, matresses, food, school uniforms, books, soap n medicine. Nway the list is endless. Thank u 4 ur concern n love abt us.”

Unfortunately, the government is not at this time offering financial assistance which places a tremendous burden on Pistis for the price of food has sky-rocketed and availability remains low. This may be the greatest, long term crises to face. SPAN is now receiving additional donations for Pistis.

Thank you! –kai

Text messages, email, and the news
The following are a series of text messages and email from Jacintah and her brother Wycliffe. We have remained in communication, nearly every other day this past month. I am privileged to receive these daily updates and then contrast/compare to the news as presented by NPR, as follows.

SMS from Jacintah, 08-Jan-08, 07:45
“At least peace is kaming n seen. President is expected 2 meet opposition leader in order 2 have dialoge n reconciliation. The person uniting is president of ghana.”

SMS from Jacintah, 16-Jan-08, 07:45
“Jambo! Hope ok. We’re doing fine tho today other towns r having peaceful demonstration bt people have been shot n wounded at kisumu town.”

At this point, I had just listened to an hour long program on the Sirius NRP Talk station. I do not recall the guests’ names nor their respective titles, but a number of important points were addressed, including discussion of whether or not Kenya could become another Rwanda. This is what I gleaned from the program, my own paraphrasing applied:

Rwanda was fully planned, an exacting execution of genocide through the use of military and powerful “hate radio” propaganda. Rwanda was an ethnic battle with political overtones. The guests concluded, “What is unfolding in Kenya is political with ethnic overtones … and is not likely to become something more.”

When asked about the foundation of the ethnic tension that is boiling to the surface, one of the guests described two potential causes:

In the ’50s, when Kenyans began to organize to gain political power, the then controlling British made certain the tribes were not able to work together by curbing political parties along tribal boundaries. This ensured these new political bodies could not gain too much momentum, too quickly. It stands to reason that just fifty years later tension along these traditional boundaries remain fueled, in part, by the former British rule.

When the British exited Kenya, large plots of land, ranches and plantations were sold back to native Kenyans. In the Rift Valley in particular, those who often purchased the land were not originally from the Rift Valley, but from the central regions of Kenya, creating tension between the Rift locals and those who obtained the land.

Come forward fifty years and President Mwai Kibaki regains office by what appears to be fraud. As Kibaki is of one of the two largest tribes “Kikuyu”, the underlying tension for tribal power is amplified in a region which already harbors an elevated level of tension, and Jacintah’s text message (below) hits home.

SMS from Jacintah, 18-Jan-08, 07:45
“But the problem is now being seen as tribal, personal n above all hatred is wat is seen in xperienced.”

Email from Wicliffe, 18-Jan-08, 18:13
“Nakuru is calming down for the last three days. I witnessed good progress despite the mass movement call from ODM part. I hope this will be in the whole country in the near future. Other towns are really affected about 20 people have been killed for last three days of protest. In Nairobi, Kisumu, Eldoret and Mombasa most affected cities.”

Of course, nothing is as simple as a + b = riots, but it helps to understand some of the history, the potential fuel for these fires. The worst thing the media, any of us can do is turn a blind eye to the strife and write it off as simply “an African tribal affair” for this invokes an emotional shield, a safe disconnect. Everyone belongs to a tribe in this world, whether it is our family, our church, our school, our town, or our State. Consider what would be required to cause such a response in our selves or our neighbors; what would cause the breakdown of our societal norm –then seek empathy for those who are experiencing this now.

Gladys writes, “We at C.M.D/Pistis, are safe and sound. Protesters and armies of destruction have destroyed and raged kiosks, shops and somse houses around us. It is hit and run style of tactics. The refugees (asylum seekers) whose houses were burnt down, now some are housed at C.M.D/Pistis, have made us receive threats of harbouring thugs. The threats are real, which is threatening our survival. Govt security is aware.

Also, we are experiencing food shortage to feed all and sundry. The available food on market are very expensive because prices have skyrocketed.”

Dear Partners,

We write to wish you happy blessed New Year, 2008. We had a memorable year 2007 and thank you for your support during the year. It was a year of unprecedented miracles … we are grateful to you.

We have had general election on 27th December 2007. The post election has violence has claimed over 150 people killed hundreds of others injured in violence sparued by disputed results of the presidential election won by Mr Mwai Kibaki. Kenya is severely damaged due to disputes over the outcome. Both sides (Government and opposition) are alleging rigging and have taken extreme positions. Never has there been so much animosity between people who have lived together as good neighbours for many years.

Food and fuel is hiking and youths blocking roads and burning property as they protest at results of presidential role. Most of the businesses remained closed for the third day running. The few that open priced their goods exorbitantly with a bunch of kales going for 50 Ksh from 5 Ksh. Sugar maize flour beef and vegetables have disappeared as traders remain indoors for their own security. Meanwhile, the Government is assuring the country that its security force would contain the post-election violence. Pray with us for our stock of food and cash as CMD is drilling. Secondly that peace be restored to our beautiful country. That all Kenyans cherish the peace and stability that we have enjoyed from God and live together in tolerance and mutual respect.

Lastly, as we make the New Year, we wish you a happy and blessed prosperous mew year 2008. God richly bless you.

Bishop Laban and Rev Gladys Wekesa
CMD